I’m not a cruiser or a yachtie, but I love getting a good look at the land from the water when I travel. Can you recommend some memorable–and affordable–public ferry rides in North America?

A:On Lake Huron, the Chi-Cheemaun runs from the small Ontario community of Tobermory, on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, across to Manitoulin, the largest lake island in the world. It’s a scenic trip: The water around Tobermory is shockingly clear, and loaded with wrecks and strange rock formations. Part of the area is protected by Fathom Five National Marine Park.

There are a handful of other remaining Great Lakes ferries, too, mainly clustered around Wisconsin and Michigan. Coastal snobs might roll their eyes, but the size of the lakes is staggering, and the best way to see them is from the deck of a boat.